Western Michigan University Athletics

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The Western Michigan University women's basketball team opened its 2026-27 season in front of a raucous 1500+ crowd at University Arena on Monday morning.

The Broncos came within a possession of overtaking Coastal Carolina with 12 minutes left in Monday's season opener as part of the MAC-SBC Challenge. But a fourth quarter run for the Chanticleers was too much for WMU to overcome in the 68-54 defeat. Junior guard Kailey Starks didn't lose a step between seasons, leading the Brown and Gold on offense with 17 points, four assists, and four steals. Freshman guard Casey Vyverman also finished Monday in double digits as she scored 11 in her first collegiate game with a steal and a block. On defense, newcomer forward Faith Wiseman had a team-high eight rebounds in 28 minutes on the floor.

Coastal Carolina got an early bucket to begin Monday's game, but both offenses took the first half of the quarter to warm up. The lead was traded twice in the first three minutes as guard Zuri Ransom was Western Michigan's early leader with four points. But the Chanticleers put together a 10 point run around the media timeout, putting the Broncos in an early hole. WMU clawed its way out of the double digit deficit thanks to back to back three pointers from junior guard Ali Harness and key layups from Starks. The Brown and Gold tied the game back up with 1:38 to go. A made three in the final minute of the quarter from Coastal Carolina made it a 17-14 game.

Western Michigan struggled in the second quarter, making only 30% of its shots from the floor after an early stretch where the Broncos were able to tie the game twice. WMU was led by fifth year guard Alli Carlson in the second with five of the Brown and Gold's nine points. Western Michigan had only four points in the final seven and a half minutes of the first half, heading into the locker room down by 12.

The Broncos turned the tides to begin the second half, having a game-best third quarter. After back and forth points to begin the third, WMU tore off on a nine point run to get back within five of the Chanticleers. The Brown and Gold's second half surge was helped by entering the bonus with over half the third quarter left as Coastal Carolina racked up five fouls. Western Michigan added eight points at the line in the third frame while closing out the quarter with a three, an and-one, and another field goal to shoot 42.9% from the floor. The Broncos entered the final 10 minutes trailing by only four with 48-44 on the scoreboard. 

The fourth quarter began with a made three point jump shot for both sides as Wiseman made the first three of her collegiate career. The three from Wiseman was the highlight for WMU in the first six and a half minutes of the fourth. The Brown and Gold offense fell into a cold spell as the Chanticleers grew their lead to 15. Starks broke the dry spell with a layup a minute after the media timeout of the quarter. But Western Michigan didn't put a run together until the final minute of the game, falling to Coastal Carolina 68-54. 

The Broncos spread the wealth on defense as nine players recorded at least one rebound to collect 32 as a team. WMU kept even with the Chanticleers on takeaways and blocks as both sides had nine steals and four stopped shots. The Brown and Gold outshot Coastal Carolina at the line by over 30%, going 10-of-14 (71.4%) while CCU was only six-of-17 (35.3) at the charity stripe. 

Western Michigan remains at home for the next week, playing its first evening game of the season on Tuesday, November 10. The Broncos pick back up their non-conference series with the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on Tuesday. WMU currently leads the series 6-2 but suffered its first loss to Purdue Fort Wayne in over 20 years during the team's 2024 meeting. Tip off for the ninth game in the series is set for 7 p.m. on November 10.